Americans of all ages suffer from arthritis and joint pain caused by genetic and environmental causes. There are various types of arthritis, the most common types being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Joint pain can also be attributed to injury or bursitis. Many people suffering from arthritis or joint pain report experiencing unprecedented relief at Active Edge with the combination of functional medicine and chiropractic care.
Arthritis is a common ailment involving pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced range of motion in the joints. It may also cause numbness and tingling or feel like a dull ache or burning in and around the joints. These symptoms are caused by inflammation in the synovial fluid of the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents an abundance of cytokines (proteins associated with immune response) and inflammatory markers in the synovial space of the joints which slowly destroy the cartilage and bones of the joints with age. While the exact cause of these excess inflammatory substances is unknown, it is often caused by genetics, epigenetics, smoking, or a bacteria called porphyromonas gingivalis.
These factors ultimately lead to the modification of your body’s natural antigens to make them seem foreign, causing an immune response to contributing to more inflammatory substances to the target area.
RA is linked with physical or emotional stress which can be inflammatory, as well as poor nutrition or bacterial infection. Addressing these aspects of your health can be crucial in allowing your body to heal from this chronic inflammation.
Osteoarthritis is the narrowing of the joint space which causes a loss of cartilage – a buffer between your bones that prevents them from rubbing. When the cartilage is totally worn away in severe osteoarthritis, bone spurs arise as a result of the body trying to fix the damage.
There are two types of osteoarthritis: primary and secondary osteoarthritis.
Primary osteoarthritis is idiopathic, meaning there is no direct cause and occurs as a result of old age and degeneration (but likely spurred by genetic factors).
Secondary osteoarthritis is due to discrete causes such as injury or congenital abnormalities.
Understanding and addressing these factors are crucial for managing your type of arthritis effectively.
Arthritis and joint pain can affect you all over your body. These are the most common locations we get asked about and common people who may experience them more than others:
Sacroiliac joint pain, or SI joint pain, stems from dysfunction or inflammation in the SI joint, connecting the spine to the pelvis. This condition often manifests as pain in the lower back and buttocks, affecting posture and mobility. The SI joint plays a crucial role in absorbing shock between the upper body and pelvis, making it prone to stress and strain. SI joint pain can result from various factors, including injuries, pregnancy, or degeneration over time. Regardless of the cause, restoring joint mobility and muscular balance is imperative for decreasing pain, improving function, and helping you feel better than you thought you could.
The pelvis is very complex in it’s movements and the muscles that can be contributing to your movement dysfunction. Each person will have their own cocktail of areas involved, but some of the most common muscles needing some love with lower back and SI joint pain are psoas, hamstrings, quads, calves, and gluts. Sacro tuberous ligament can also be a huge contributor to stiffness in the pelvic joints.
Your knees are involved in many high impact movements such as running, kneeling, or lifting heavy objects. Many knee issues however are not coming from the knee, at least not initially. Yes, there is pain in the knee, but the knee is often the scape goat for dysfunction in the ankle, hip, pelvis, or even the upper back and shoulders. If the underlying areas of dysfunction creating knee pain are not addressed, this can lead to degeneration and arthritis.
Often people associate knee pain with aging, but, especially if it’s only one knee, your knee pain is a result of previous injuries and how you’re currently moving rather than your age. Though it is true that moving in a poor pattern for longer will cause more degeneration, so in that way, your age is contributing, but we would not consider it causal.
Arthritis in your knees can cause pain by simply walking or sitting a certain way. Systemic inflammation, being overweight or excessive pounding can add additional stress on your knees making joint pain even more common for those individuals.
Stiffness or pain in your wrists, hands and fingers is extremely common, especially with many jobs requiring repetitive motions with your hands on a daily basis. Thumbs, knuckles, and wrists are the most common places affected. Stretching your arms and hands daily can prevent or slow this degeneration.
Hip pain is most common where your femur connects with your hip joint near your groin. Standing for long periods can make this worse or various exercises moving your legs or hips in an unusual motion. It is common for athletes or dancers to have hip pain in addition to those overweight due to the additional stress. Additionally, women that are pregnant may experience more hip pain due to changes in the body prepping for birth and poor postural alignment.
Arthritis can cause pain or stiffness in your feet or ankles, most commonly in your heels, big toe, or where your shin and ankle meet. Moving with poor mechanics, shoes without a wide enough toe box, and excess weight are common causes.
Traditionally, arthritis and joint pain may be treated with medication, physical therapy, or surgery. Recommendations for aid often include applying a cold or hot compress or even taking an immunosuppressant drug. However, these methods of treatment do not scratch the surface of the root of the issue. Continuation of these short-term treatments will never actually fix the issue at hand but rather mask it.
At Active Edge, our arthritis and joint pain doctors will address the issue from an interconnected perspective, incorporating chiropractic and functional medicine. This is an approach that addresses the underlying causes of your chronic joint pain and inflammation through exercise, chiropractic manipulation, lifestyle changes, and nutrition. Our rheumatoid and osteoarthritis doctors will use a unique process involving tests, detailed family histories, and physical examinations to determine the specific causes and contributing factors of joint pain for each of our patients. Addressing both physical and physiological factors simultaneously means faster, more remarkable, and longer lasting results.
Nutrition can have major implications on how you feel, even down to your joint pain. Since inflammation is the underlying cause of pain in the joints, foods that promote inflammation only make the conditions worse in the synovial space of your joints. Excess inflammation can also be caused by molecular mimicry. Molecular mimicry is a phenomenon that occurs when substances entering the body (foreign substances) and substances made in the body mimic one another, causing an inflammatory reaction. If these foreign substances are found in your commonly consumed foods, our arthritis specialists may explore reducing or omitting these foods to reduce mimicry and confusion of your immune system. Reducing inflammatory foods from your diet can have potentially dramatic benefits.
Enzyme therapy has also been effective in reducing joint pain because enzymes are protective against inflammation. Since enzyme production decreases as we age, it is important to use enzyme supplementation to restore enzyme balance and function. While conventional medicine may suggest taking anti-inflammatories, this remedy suppresses the body’s immune system and only addresses the symptom of the problem (inflammation) instead of the root (the cause of inflammation, aka lack of enzymes). At Active Edge, we will work with you to help you find the right formula and supplements for joint pain that work best for you and your specific arthritis.
Traditionally, arthritis and joint pain may be treated with medication, physical therapy, or surgery. Recommendations for aid often include applying a cold or hot compress or even taking an immunosuppressant drug. However, these methods of treatment do not scratch the surface of the root of the issue. Continuation of these short-term treatments will never actually fix the issue at hand but rather mask it.
At Active Edge, we address RA and joint pain from an interconnected perspective, incorporating chiropractic and functional medicine. This is an approach that addresses the underlying causes of your chronic joint pain and inflammation through exercise, chiropractic manipulation, lifestyle changes, and nutrition. We use a unique process involving tests, detailed family histories, and physical examinations to determine the specific causes and contributing factors of joint pain for each of our patients. Addressing both physical and physiological factors simultaneously means faster, more remarkable, and longer lasting results.
Nutrition can have major implications on how you feel, even down to your joint pain. Since inflammation is the underlying cause of pain in the joints, foods that promote inflammation only make the conditions worse in the synovial space of your joints. Excess inflammation can also be caused by molecular mimicry. Molecular mimicry is a phenomenon that occurs when substances entering the body (foreign substances) and substances made in the body mimic one another, causing an inflammatory reaction. If these foreign substances are found in your commonly consumed foods, we may explore reducing or omitting these foods to reduce mimicry and confusion of your immune system. Reducing inflammatory foods from your diet can have potentially dramatic benefits.
Enzyme therapy has also been effective in reducing joint pain because enzymes are protective against inflammation. Since enzyme production decreases as we age, it is important to use enzyme supplementation to restore enzyme balance and function. While conventional medicine may suggest taking anti-inflammatories, this remedy suppresses the body’s immune system and only addresses the symptom of the problem (inflammation) instead of the root (the cause of inflammation, aka lack of enzymes). At Active Edge, we will work with you to help you find a formula that works best for you and your specific joint pain.
Depending on the cause of your joint pain, your care may involve some combination of functional medicine, nutrition coaching, chiropractic care, and exercise therapy/movement retraining. Through these methods we can reduce inflammation and build strength to relieve pain and pressure on the impacted joints. Additionally, we may suggest joint pain supplements that are helpful in cartilage support and restoring joint function.
Arthritis and joint pain tend to worsen with age, but they don’t have to! The earlier intervention is introduced, the better, but it is never too late to start working out of pain and into better function. Make an appointment today with one of our chiropractors or functional medicine specialists. Call (614) 407-5335.
Chiropractic & Exercise Therapy: Poor, inefficient movement patterns create acidity in the body. The more acidic a body, the more susceptible it is to disease and inflammation. Regardless of the type of arthritis that plagues you, we find that restoring movement function makes other elements of your care more effective and vice versa. Also, restoring range of motion, balance, and strength can help you utilize your musculature more correctly and efficiently, reducing stress on the affected joints for more local effects.
Functional Medicine & Nutrition: To assist in reducing joint inflammation, it is likely necessary to reduce inflammation elsewhere. Damage, dysregulation, or disease may cause your body to produce an inflammatory response anywhere in the body, including internal organs. This could mean underlying infection, toxicity, or stress from overactivity. If this is the case, even if you are moving well, you need to heal these organs to reach maximum relief. Our functional medicine practitioners will come alongside you and help you feel empowered to do so.
As Doctors of Chiropractic, our education is based on the foundation that our bodies are intelligent and interconnected. Our curriculum includes some of the most in-depth training in anatomy, microbiology, diagnosis, kinesiology, vertebral subluxations, inflammation, and nutrition. We recognize the importance of all systems functioning well together, focus on prevention, and continue to refine our knowledge to heal problems from the inside out.
With studies under some of the Functional Medicine greats including Bob Rakowski, Jeffery Bland, Mark Hyman, and Jeff Bryst, our doctors have spent countless hours studying bioavailable diagnostic tests (blood, hair, skin, nails ) and deepening knowledge of supplements, tinctures, essential oils and other tools to help the body heal from naturally.
We apply both functional medicine and physical medicine to enhance neurological communication and cellular repair to activate patients’ bodies ability to heal common sources of arthritis and inflammation naturally.
Our wide range of knowledge helps us see the whole body picture and provide the most comprehensive care to find the root of dysfunctions of your arthritis and joint pains. Patient’s often feel positive improvements in pain reduction, increased range of motion, enhanced energy, and more, as they implement the tools they need for healing naturally and holistically.
As Doctors of Chiropractic, our education is based on the foundation that our bodies are intelligent and interconnected. Our curriculum includes more nutrition education than medical doctors and some of the most in-depth training in anatomy, microbiology, diagnosis, inflammation, and vertebral subluxations. We recognize the importance of all systems functioning well together, focus on prevention, and continue to refine our knowledge to heal problems from the inside out.
With studies under some of the Functional Medicine greats including Bob Rakowski, Jeffery Bland, Mark Hyman, and Jeff Bryst, our doctors have spent countless hours studying bioavailable diagnostic tests (blood, hair, skin, nails ) and gaining in depth knowledge of supplements, tinctures, essential oils.
We apply both functional medicine and physical techniques to enhance neurological communication and help patients’ bodies heal common sources of arthritis and inflammation throughout the body.
Our wide range of knowledge helps us see the whole body picture and provide the most comprehensive care to find the root of dysfunctions of your arthritis and joint pains. Patient’s often feel positive improvements in pain reduction, increased range of motion, enhanced energy, and more, as they implement the tools they need for healing naturally and holistically.
Arthritis is best prevented through diet and lifestyle choices that reduce inflammation, reduce toxic load, and keep movement balanced and strong throughout the body.
Though there are over 100 types of arthritis, they can generally be broken down into 2 categories, degenerative and systemic, but there is some overlap. Both types are caused by prolonged or exacerbated stressors. The type of stressor(s) determine the degeneration that is happening (physical/musculoskeletal degeneration or physiological/organ degeneration) and the type of arthritis that presents. Even in cases of genetic predisposition, the activation or expression of that trait is generally triggered by stress. Stressors in this case can be physical chemical or emotional. The good news is there is a lot that can be done naturally to prevent and reduce arthritis symptoms.
Arthritis by definition is joint inflammation. We have a tendency in our society to associate arthritis with bony changes and degeneration. Degeneration and bony changes occur when there is too little movement or to much movement in an area. This can be the result of overuse and poor movement patterns or trauma. Degeneration itself can cause some local inflammation, but it is not unusual for areas of mild to moderate degeneration to have little to no pain when they are not accompanied by systemic inflammation as well. Prevention of joint degeneration comes down to recognizing and correcting poor movement patterns early. Supplementation such as https://drhensel.metagenics.com/osteovantiv, and https://drhensel.nutridyn.com/prm-resolvecan be really great for decreasing local inflammation and healing simultaneously.
Systemic types of arthritis that are less due to joint degeneration and more do to organ dysfunction and immune system break down resulting in the symptom of joint pain. Different organ systems have connections and referral patterns associated with different joints and thus, tend to show up differently in the body. Most of these can be prevented, put into remission, or have greatly reduced symptoms by eliminating or reducing systemic inflammation. Systemic inflammation can be reduced and controlled largely by cleaning out and balancing the systems of your body.
5 worst foods to eat
Gluten is a protein that can aggravate joints. Avoid eating wheat, barley, or rye products like bread, pasta, and more.
Canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, palm oil and rapeseed oil as well as Margarine.
Foods high in fat can encourage bad bacteria which can wear away cartilage.
Sugar causes inflammation and lowers the Ph of the body causing more acidity.
Highly processed food typically contain preservatives, refined grains , added sugars, and potentially other added inflammatory ingredients.
5 best foods to eat
Nuts contain high levels of protein , magnesium , and other immune boosting properties .
Another protein source and also high in fiber, zinc, iron, and more.
Green tea has many antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Flowering plants like garlic are full of antioxidants and antiviral properties.
Broccoli contains glucosinolates, natural constituents that are recognized for their potential anti-inflammatory properties.
From the outside, arthritis, can look like stiffness, redness and inflammation, boney lay down and changes in joint structure, or nothing at all. Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that also contains a red, scaly rash in addition to joint pain.
Inside on x-rays, especially in later, more severe stages of arthritic degeneration, you may see decreases in joint spaces, boney deposits, or spurs resulting from excess tensions at the tendonous attachment points. These ossifications can decrease joint mobility, and cause joints to look crooked, bumpy, or otherwise deformed.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can be used to identify elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate), or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies.
Image Tests
Image testing like an MRI, x-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound can help detect arthritis as you will be able to see the alignment of the bones and joints to determine the severity of your arthritis.
This is an infection of your joint tissue from an injury or bacteria traveling through your bloodstream. This most commonly happens in knees or hands, common joint injury locations. The most well-known version of this would be a staph infection
At this point, you are feeling better than you ever thought you could as you are feeling energized and thriving. You have learned a lot about your body, you are moving more efficiently, you understand your body’s cues, and you have a good idea of what to do with these cues. This means you get to try new things, achieve new goals, and conquer new challenges! As you do, we will be here as your resource, as needed, to help you nourish, boost, and refresh your health.
Pain is generally the last symptom to show up and the first to go away. This means that by the time you realize there is a problem, there has been a problem for a long time. Especially for chronic or recurring issues, understanding how you got to where you are is so important for getting to where you want to go. In this stage of your journey, you will resolve underlying dysfunction, remove cheats, and retrain habits. As we aid you in activating your body’s natural healing potential, we will help you regain movement, energy, and body function both inside and outside. Throughout this process, you will start to feel greater ease and inspiration as you restore communication and efficiency in your body. Together, we will constantly assess, observe, and reassess your body’s responses to boost your results.
You are your own person, with your own collection of life events which brought you to where you are today. You deserve to be heard, seen, and treated as the individual you are. Your journey begins with your Discovery Evaluation. This first visit includes your exam which works to uncover the root of your issue(s), new patient diagnostics, and, of course, your first treatment. This is how we will help you begin connecting the dots and feeling better. After your first treatment, we will ask you to observe your body’s responses– good, bad, or indifferent. There is no wrong answer as this is just starting point information and direction for moving forward. In your second visit, we will review this feedback and your diagnostics to further identify potential underlying causes and compensations. We will combine everything we have learned about you, consider your goals, and together create a plan to resolve your concerns from the roots up.
